PLAN YOUR VISIT – FREE to the public!
TOUR FORMAT
Take a Ranger-led tour of Cincinnati’s only National Park! Start your tour in the Taft Education Center to watch a fifteen-minute film about William Howard Taft and to learn about the past, present, and ongoing achievements and influence of the Taft family. While in the Taft Education Center, you can visit with an audio-animatronic version of William’s son Charles Phelps Taft II (Charlie) as he fishes and tells you stories about his father and other members of the Taft family. Periodic special exhibits also take place in the Taft Education Center.
Next, walk across the lawn with a Ranger to visit the birthplace and beautiful childhood home of Cincinnati’s own President and Supreme Court Chief Justice. This Greek Revival style house was built in the 1840s and purchased by Alphonso Taft in 1851. This family house has been restored to look as it did during the time William lived there. All the family portraits and many of the books on display belonged to the Taft family. The other furniture and decorative pieces are period pieces selected to match the type of furnishings the Taft family would have had in their home between 1857 and 1877. The second floor contains exhibits on the accomplishments of William including his time as Solicitor General of the United States, Governor General of the Philippines, United States Secretary of War, 27th President of the United States, and 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
HOURS
Open 8:30am – 4:45pm every day except Thanksgiving, December 25th, and January 1st. Tours every half hour. Notifications about inclement weather delays and/or closings will be posted on the National Park Service Facebook Page.